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Photovoltaic device

a photovoltaic and device technology, applied in photovoltaic supports, climate sustainability, sustainable buildings, etc., can solve the problems of inconvenient installation, inconvenient maintenance, and inconvenient installation

Inactive Publication Date: 2013-09-26
DOW GLOBAL TECH LLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a photovoltaic device that addresses various issues related to photovoltaic cells. The invention includes a three-dimensional multi-layered photovoltaic cell assembly with a panel that has at least a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge. The assembly includes a body portion assembly and an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is made of an encapsulant layer and is at least partially disposed between the three-dimensional multi-layered photovoltaic cell assembly and the body portion assembly. The invention also includes a connector assembly that is at least partially embedded in the body portion assembly. The invention provides improved performance and reliability of photovoltaic devices.

Problems solved by technology

These systems may be complicated, typically do not install like conventional cladding materials (e.g. roofing shingles or siding) and, as a consequence, may be expensive to install.
Also, they may not be visually appealing as they do not look like conventional building materials.
Thus, installation cost can be as much or more as the cost of the article.
They also may suffer from issues related to environmental conditions such as warping, fading and degradation of its physical properties.

Method used

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Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0045]The present invention relates to an improved photovoltaic device 10 (hereafter “PV device”), as illustrated in FIG. 1, can be described generally as an assembly of a number of components and component assemblies that functions to provide electrical energy when subjected to solar radiation (e.g. sunlight). Of particular interest and the main focus of the present disclosure is an improved PV device 10 that includes at least a multilayered photovoltaic cell assembly 100 (hereafter “MPCA”) joined to a body portion 200. In a preferred embodiment, the PV device is formed by taking the MPCA (and potentially other components and assemblies such as connector components) and forming (e.g. via injection molding) the body portion about at least portions the MPCA. It is contemplated that the relationships (e.g. at least the geometric properties and the material properties) between the components and component assemblies are surprisingly important in solving one or more of the issues discus...

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Abstract

The present invention is premised upon an improved photovoltaic device (“PV device”), more particularly to an improved photovoltaic device (10) with a multilayered photovoltaic cell assembly (100) and a body portion (200) joined at an interface region (410) and including an intermediate layer (500), at least one interconnecting structural member (1500), relieving feature (2500), unique component geometry, or any combination thereof.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY[0001]The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 424,320 filed on Dec. 17, 2010 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.[0002]This invention was made with U.S. Government support under contract DE-FC36-07G017054 awarded by the Department of Energy. The U.S. Government has certain rights in this invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to an improved photovoltaic device (“PVD” or “PV device”), more particularly to an improved photovoltaic device with a multilayered photovoltaic cell assembly in the form of a panel and a body portion joined at an interface region including at least one interconnecting member, at least one interconnecting structural member, relieving feature, unique component geometry, or any combination thereof.BACKGROUND[0004]Efforts to improve PV devices, particularly those devices that are integrated into building structures (e....

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H01L31/048
CPCY02B10/12H01L31/0483H01L31/048H02S40/34Y02E10/50H02S20/25H02S20/00Y02B10/10H01L31/0481
Inventor REESE, JASON A.KEENIHAN, JAMES R.GASTON, RYAN S.KAUFFMANN, KEITH L.LANGMAID, JOSEPH A.LOPEZ, LEONARDO C.MAAK, KEVIN D.MILLS, MICHAEL E.RAMESH, NARAYANTELI, SAMAR R.
Owner DOW GLOBAL TECH LLC